HK DEC 19 - EL ZONDA GETS HIS REWARD

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Tony Cruz-trained El Zonda has been an extremely consistent galloper in the sprint events at the city track and he kept up his good work and produced a thundering late burst to take the Class One Happy Valley Trophy over 1,200m.

Jumping well from the golden gate one, El Zonda was positioned comfortably in midfield with Matthew Chadwick in the saddle. He accelerated powerfully near the fence in the straight to eventually overhaul hot-favourite Charles The Great by a head. Talley Close finished in third.

Cruz said El Zonda is a horse that goes a lot better at Happy Valley and Chadwick gave him a great ride.

“He was a horse that had a lot of problems when he was younger. At one time he had very bad feet problems. Matthew is riding in great form and much more confident and aggressive.”

It was such a great evening for Cruz and Chadwick as stablemate Cape Canaveral earned another significant 15 points to extend his lead in the 1010 Million Challenge with a total of 63 points after winning the Yik Yam Handicap.

Cape Canaveral was settled near the rear before charging home strongly in the concluding stages to beat Rainbow Fighter by three-quarter lengths. Samadhi ran a fair third.

In the Class Three Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Challenge Cup over 2,200m, Travel Brand who is trained by Dennis C H Yip revealed tremendous turn of foot to outgun Victory Mascot by half of a length. Yip also sealed a double with Happy Homing who grabbed the King Kwong Handicap in Race Two.

The eight-year-old veteran Fluke brought the remarkable 400th winner for trainer Peter L Ho.

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